Where are you reading this?

We don’t mean in a coffee shop or office or even in the comfort of your own home in front of the TV, we mean what are you reading this on? The chances are you’re catching up on business on your smartphone or tablet on the go rather than on a laptop or desktop. And one thing is certain – the only reason you notice the difference is if that website isn’t user-friendly.

We spoke on our homepage about the beauty and poetry of numbers and the magic of things coming together and fitting into place just right. Those favorite odd socks separated by an unfortunate laundry accident? Together again. You may or may not already be aware that Google are doing things a little differently now, and it’s all influenced by our searching and browsing behavior.

That’s why branding on mobile first is key in putting your name out there and being that matching sock for your customers. We’re not going to pretend that’s easy, as your brand is your promise. That’s where we come in, however.

Branding on Mobile First

So what is Google looking for? In short, they’re running a series of experiments. Rather than running around like mad professors with bubbling and smoking test tubes, they’re taking their cue from how we get our information now and are on track to take their index mobile-first. That means your mobile content has to be in the best shape possible to keep your page ranking where you need it to be.

And that’s where we come in. You may have a technical team that is on point with this already, in which case we’re happy to work with them and optimize your brand and your promise. If you’re a one-man (or woman) band and the whole thought of getting to grips with making sure your web branding works on mobile brings you out in a cold sweat, let us do it all for you. After all, it’s what we do, and we pride ourselves on being front and center, delivering value to everyone, whether you’re all alone or a multinational.

So what do you need to do? Google is only at the start of this process, but here are a few things to consider. Responsive web designs mean that you’re in good shape already, as the same code is sent by the server to whatever device it’s being viewed on. However, if they’re different on desktop and mobile, let us get your ducks in a row – or your socks in pairs on the washing line if you prefer. Branding on mobile first makes sure you’ve got enough pegs to stop your socks blowing away in the next strong breeze.

Mobile websites that clunk tend to date back to the days of WAP when a simple page of text took half an hour and most of our cell battery to load. You might have updated the content, but are you still otherwise stuck in 2001? If you’re stuck to answer that one, Google can help – and not just by telling you the time in every city in the world – with their Structured Data Testing Tool. Check out the structured markup of your desktop and mobile versions, and see where you in comparison to where you need to be.

You’re already an expert at what you do, so there’s no reason why you should feel you’ve dropped the ball, or wonder why you haven’t picked this up sooner. It’s our job to do that. Think of it as looking at one of those picture puzzles where you’re supposed to be able to see an animal or a word, but you can only see colored dots. We’re the words, and the words are branding on mobile first.